The last week has brought the sort of volatility in the stock market that we have not seen since February and March when investors were contemplating just how debilitating lockdowns might be for the economy in an attempt to thwart the spread of the coronavirus. The S&P 500 sold off 7% from last Wednesday's highs to this Tuesday's lows, while the Nasdaq saw an 11% decline during the same period.

Mega-tech stocks have been the best performers from the March lows, but the perceived "winners of the pandemic" were some of the hardest hit in this past week's volatility. Despite some recent profit taking, the $7 trillion question (last week's combined market capitalization of AAPL, AMZN, MSFT, GOOGL, and FB) is whether or not the fever has broken in the tech leaders. And if the broad market is to make new highs soon, will it take new leadership from more cyclical groups like financials and industrials that could benefit from a vaccine and the virus being in the rearview...

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Next LIVE broadcast: Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 2 p.m. ET

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To help you navigate through these unusual market conditions, Fidelity's leaders have come together for a webcast series called, Market Insights: New Developments, What to Consider, and Top Questions Answered. Tuesdays at 2 p.m., in under 20 minutes, they'll cover the latest market happenings, actions you might consider, and answers to common questions.

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When you choose an investment, start by considering how it will fit into your overall investment strategy. Consider performance and risk, but don't pick a fund based just on recent results. Factor in cost and look for investment options that have the potential to offer value.

Most people want to have excellent credit, or at least very good credit. After all, your credit score affects the rates you'll pay for loans—and even whether or not you're eligible for a loan.

Not everyone can have excellent credit. Some people will have poor credit, and some people will have credit that's just average.

If you're wondering how you fare in comparison with the credit scores of others, you may be wondering exactly what an average credit score is. The answer to this question depends on what you mean by average.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, the new date for filing federal income tax returns and for making contributions to your IRA for 2019 is July 15, 2020. It is currently unclear if state filings and payments are affected; taxpayers should consult their advisors for state tax information.

Whether you want us to manage your finances or you’d like to do it yourself, we offer a full range of accounts and investments to help meet your goals. You can even add non-Fidelity accounts, so you can see all of your finances in one simple dashboard.###

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I've been thinking I should meet with a financial professional, but I'm not sure what to expect or how to prepare. Can you tell me what I should expect in the first meeting?

The daily new highs in the stock market are downright jaw-dropping. Since making a new all-time high 2 weeks ago, the S&P 500 is up more than 4%. Looking under the hood, it’s worth noting that stocks in the index confirming those new highs are dwindling while the number of stocks making new 52-week lows is increasing. This, coupled with the massive underperformance of the equal weight S&P 500 index to the market weight index, suggests that the 5 largest components (Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Facebook) are doing much of the heavy lifting given their outsized year-to-date gains and their nearly 25% weight of the index of 500 stocks. Add in the VIX in the mid-20s and we might have a cocktail for downward volatility in the offing.

Let’s look back on some trade ideas from In the Money on August 5. You can find more information on these trade ideas by viewing the videos above or listening on Apple Podcast.

The pace of change is accelerating with technological advances, innovative business models, and changing consumer preferences. We’ve used our robust research capabilities to identify disruptors worldwide, from cloud computing to autonomous vehicles. Leveraging this research, we’ve developed a unique set of actively managed disruption funds. All are available with Fidelity’s new time-based loyalty pricing.

If you do not have complex planning needs, a basic estate plan can be completed online in 1 to 3 hours and cost less than $1,000. Consider other documents that can help round out your estate plan: an advance health care directive, a power of attorney for finances, and a health care proxy. A financial advisor can help you take inventory of your assets and work with your attorney so that your estate plan reflects changes in your financial situation over time.

Fidelity does not provide legal or tax advice. The information herein is general in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation.

We offer multiple ways to help you evolve your options trading strategy, be more effective with your research and analysis, and better leverage our trading platforms and tools. Choose the way you prefer to learn.

Next LIVE broadcast: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 2 p.m. ET

Add to calendar

To help you navigate through these unusual market conditions, Fidelity's leaders have come together for a webcast series called, Market Insights: New Developments, What to Consider, and Top Questions Answered. Tuesdays at 2 p.m., in under 20 minutes, they'll cover the latest market happenings, actions you might consider, and answers to common questions.

Download slides (PDF)

Consider setting up an estate plan, especially if you want to minimize probate costs, protect your privacy, and find ways to save on taxes. An estate plan helps you control the disposition of your assets upon your passing, ensuring that assets flow to your heirs according to your wishes. Your estate plan does more than disperse your financial assets; it also provides guidance for your loved ones regarding your preferences for end-of-life medical intervention.

Some people believe you have to start claiming Social Security benefits at age 62. That's a myth: 62 is the earliest age you can claim your benefit, but it’s not the only age to do so. Waiting to claim Social Security after age 62 comes with a bonus: roughly 8% additional monthly income per year for each year you delay claiming (up to age 70). If you're divorced and meet certain conditions, you're entitled either to your own Social Security benefit or to 50% of your ex’s Social Security benefit, whichever is higher.

Low-priced small-cap stocks may have the potential to pleasantly surprise investors who seek them out as alternatives to expensive growth stocks.

"I believe low valuations can be a good predictor of high returns in the future, which is why I'm more optimistic about owning small-cap stocks for the next 3 to 5 years than I've been in a decade," says Derek Janssen, portfolio manager of Fidelity® Small Cap-Discovery Fund (FSCRX).

Aside from low historical valuations, Janssen notes the valuation spread between growth and value stocks reached an all-time high early in 2020.

"And when valuation spreads are near all-time wides, I would rather take a chance on mean reversion than a further widening," he says.

The reason for this disparity, he says, is that very few investors feel small-cap value stocks are the place to be. This may make some people uncomfortable, but pessimism for the asset class is needed to create historically...

In general, the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk, liquidity risk, call risk, and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so holding them until maturity to avoid losses caused by price volatility is not possible.

What do you think of when you hear the word "budget"?

According to 2 recent studies, only 40% of Americans live on a monthly budget,1 and only 37% of us have more than $500 in the bank for emergencies.2 So, for many of us, the word is likely a little intimidating—or something we'd rather avoid. In reality, the majority of us aren't too familiar with our expenses, and we're generally unprepared for financial hiccups.

But creating (and maintaining) a budget is a major step toward designing the lifestyle and careers we deserve. Whether it's paying rent, employing staff, or investing in professional development, a budget numerically represents our interests, passions, and necessities. By examining our expenses, we can better understand our habits, figure out where to cut back, determine if we're on the right career path, prepare for potential financial downturns, and create lifestyles that better mirror our...

We offer multiple ways to help you evolve your options trading strategy, be more effective with your research and analysis, and better leverage our trading platforms and tools. Choose the way you prefer to learn.

In a world where women are still under-represented in senior management positions, Abby Johnson stands out—Chairman, CEO, wife and mother, innovator, and passionate advocate for helping women make their money work harder for them. Personal finance expert and #hermoneypodcast host Jean Chatzky asked Abby to share some of her experiences and insights on careers, work-life balance, and how artificial intelligence is helping eradicate unconscious bias.

Here are some highlights of the far-reaching conversation.